TBILISI (Sputnik) — The Israeli border service detained 26 Georgian citizens in Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, Georgian media reported on Saturday.
According to Georgia's First Channel broadcaster, all detainees purchased vacation packages in the same tourist company.
The Georgian embassy in Israel is looking into the reasons for detention, the media outlet said adding that border officers did not believe Georgian nationals who claimed to be pilgrims.
"All 26 were denied entry to Israel as they had claimed the arrival for tourism purposes, while in fact, they came here to work, without having the corresponding permissions," spokeswoman for the Israeli Interior Ministry's migration department Sabine Haddad told RIA Novosti.
Shortly following her comments, media reported that some of the detained were deported to Georgia, while the rest would fly home on Sunday.
